Ok, I've some body damage to my car. The three big things I'm shower; civic cancer, a smashed in door and a nastily cracked windshield.
I inherited the car from my step-bro...the bent in door...yeah, his mom hit it while pulling into their driveway years ago. He was too lazy to get it fixed.
The civic rust...self explanatory. I've heard bondo? Cut it all off then bondo it? No idea.
The windshield...Same step-bro...driving through a taco-bell drive through during the winter, an icecicle fell and supposedly cracked his windshield (right before I got the car). Naturally he also did nothing about that. I understand it's a huge risk to have. Here are my pics, advice on how to fix, the things, where to fix them, prices, whatever would be helpful.

And don't knock it's being dirty. I haven't washed it in a couple weeks, I'm very well aware it's dirty =p

For the windshield, I've been recommended to go to SafeLite or whatever.

Windshield


Passenger Wheel Rust 1


Passenger Wheel Rust 2


Banged up door


Some more cancer (driver rear wheel)


Thanks guys!

 

The door and fender are easily replaced if you can a find a donor car. The rust will come back not unless you cut it out and weld in new metal - not cheap unless you known someone you can weld in new metal. If you are just using the car for transportation, I would replace the windshield and drive the car until the wheels fall off. At least you got the car for free.

 

I agree with the previous poster regarding cut/weld for permanent rust repair. Even then you have to coat the underside, prep the metal, and sandblast the welds or you will have bubbling later. If you google 'bondo rust repair video' you will see some good clips that can help you in making your car much more presentable as you drive it. Not only that, it can be fun (and frustrating at the same time). I used to live in NE Ohio, so I feel your pain.

Ed Fisher
Dallas, Tx

 

Its natural to want to fix a car up when you get it. What you're talking about, however, will cost you more to fix than the car is really even worth. The rust you're seeing is maybe 50% of what's actually there, much more is behind the metal and under the paint, so if you wanted that job right there would be a lot of metal getting replaced. Door and fender, even from a junk yard will be somewhat expensive, then you have to make sure they're shimmed in just right. When its all said and done, unless you're pretty lucky, you'll have a nice looking fender and door that are the wrong color. Get them sprayed you're talking about more bux.

I agree with the above, get a windshield and call it good. I would get a saws-all or similar and cut off that piece of metal that looks to be ready to pwn your tire in the right quarter. THere are some compounds that neutralize rust, you could go to an autobody supply house and pick up some of that if you want to slow down the progression of the cancer. Make sure you grind off all the paint around the area and get behind the metal as much as possible.

K

 

Thanks for the advice guys
I was plannin on drivin this car until it died...which, with my new internship (45minute commute each way) will happen a lot faster than I had hoped.
It looks like a lot more work than I'm wanting to do or pay for (at this moment, with this car anyway).
I'll try and find some neutralizer to slow it down.
If I see a fresh door in the junkyard, maybe I'll grab it.
Any idea how to rip that piece off?

Any suggestions for windshield places? Anyone have any good/bad experience with glass companies?

Oh, and that piece that's right next to the tire. It used to be connected, but last weak some dumbass in an audi was pulling out of his driveway turning right. It's a small road, no line splitter (barely fits a large truck and an economy passing each other).
So this idiot, I'm driving toward him and he decides to pull out of his driveway right as I'm about to pass him. What the hell?
I slow down a little, then I realize he's not gonna cut the turn at all, he's gonna make a nice, big freaking radius. Nose of his car ends up about 2/3 of the lane out, AS I'm DRIVING BY. I honk my horn, start cussing and drive off the side of the road. There's about a foot of gravel on the side of the road, only in that particular spot (hence all the white spots on the tires). Then there's a small hill that I started driving up then I returned to the road. I slam on my breaks, get out of the car cussing up a storm and he just keeps on driving.
I couldn't believe it.
Almost every day since I've stopped at his house (it's very close to mine) and tried to get ahold of him, but he never answers. Wonder why.

Anyway, unreal. Stupid drivers I swear are gonna end the world. Not an apocalypse or swine flu or some bigass meteor, dumb, bad drivers are gonna kill all everyone.

That's my rant, sorry haha

 

yeah i think you got the best info, just rock it till the wheels fall off. most of the rust is inside so your looking at alot of cutting, welding, grinding, and paint matching. just fix the window and ur good to go.